Spacing-clamp for warp-threads and other purposes



C. LEA.

SPACING CLAMP FOR WARP THREADS AND OTHER PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILEDAUG.3I. 191s. RENEWED OCT. 11. 1919.

f 5 [m m 2 Patented. July 13, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEA, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN WARP DRAWINGMACHINE COMIEANY, 01 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- TION 0F MAINE.

SPACING-CLAlVLP FOR TARP-THREADS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1915, Serial No. 48,221. Renewed October11, 1919. Serial No. 330.140.

To (LY/Z w/tmn it may concern Be it known that I, CHAnLns LEA, citizenof the United States, and resident of Boston, Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spacing-Clamps forl/Varp-Threads and other Purposes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to spacing clamps and is more particularlyintended for use in the holding and spacing of warp threads preparatoryto or during the weaving operation, although said clamps may be used inother relations also.

The clamps commonly used for this purpose consisted of a comb-likemember combined with a trough-like cover adapted to he slipped over theends of the comb teeth after the warp or other threads have been laidbetween the teeth. Obviously, such thin metal cover when dented or bent,which easily happens, cannot readily be applied to the comb or spacingmember.

It is the object of the present invention to improve and simplify theconstruction of these devices by providing a spacing clamp whoseefliciency is not likely to be impaired by careless handling and whichis positively locked together in operative position, while at the sametime cheapening and simplifying the construction, and also rendering itcapable of use 011 a warp beam or spool that is of shorter length thanthe'clamp itself.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the preferred formembodying the principles of the present invention, .in which-- Figure 1is a side elevation of the clamp closed for use and containing the warpthreads.

Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of a portion of the spacingmember or comb.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the clamp showing the locking memberinserted in the retaining eyes of the clamp.

Fig. .L is a View of a modified form of retaining member.

In the practice of this invention, the comb member may be mostconveniently and cheaply formed of sprin metal whose teeth have a slightdegree of resilience. l Vhen made of such material it embraces the backor solid portion a and the properly spaced teeth a between which thewarp threads are placed, the teeth being pointed preferablv tofacilitate insertion of the warp threads. The teeth a, or a portionofthem at least, are formed with off-sets a thus producing a series ofopen loops or eyes, some of which face to one side of the comb andothers of which face to the opposite side in the particular form shownfor the purpose of receiving a suitable retaining memberwhich closes thespaces between the teeth to pre vent the warp threads from falling out.

This retaining member 7) may consist simply of a. wire rod which ispreferably of a diameter to fit tightly into the retaining eyes formedin the comb teeth. lVhen the comb teeth are made of resilient material,such as thin steel or the like, they will be slightly spread apart bythe inserted rod and by pinching the rod frictionally tend to preventany accidental endwise displacement of the retaining member.

As shown in Fig. l, the retaining member may consist simply of a cord 6secured to a threading needle 5 which facilitates drawingthe threadthrough the eyes of the teeth.

It will be observed that the locking member, whether consisting of acord or a rod,

'is positively held against outward movement under the tension or weightof the warp threads and yet is very easily removed by withdrawalendwise. To facilitate the insertion of the retaining member, it may betapered at one end, as shown in the drawings, which makes it easier toslightly spread apart or open the retaining loops or eyes of the combteeth.

One very important characteristic of the clamp having this constructionis that it is sufficiently flexible to allow it to be curled or bentdiagonally around the warp spool between the spool heads, even when theclamp is of greater length than the direct measurement between the twoheads of the warp spool. This is a feature of practical importance,since the same clamp can be. used on spools carrying a different numberof warp threads to the inch, since the extra length of the comb or clampcan be disposed of by bending it around the warp beam in a diagonal orspiral direction as the warp threads can be just as readily wound overthis flexible clamp in a spiral position as when it is arranged parallelto the axis ofthe beam.

What I claim is:

1. A spacing clamp for warp threads or the like embracing a spacingmember portions fof said teeth by which it is re-. movably'loclred inoperative position to prevent the threads from falling out of place,substantially as described.

2. A spacing clamp for warp threads or the like consisting of acomb-like member whose teeth are formed with cit-set open recesses orloops, some of which face toward one side and others toward the oppositeside, and arranged at the same level longitudinally of the comb,'and aretaining member adapted to be inserted endwise through the oil-setloops so as to be positively held against outward displacement,substantially as described.

3. A spacing clamp embracing in its construction a comb having resilientteeth formed with open oft-set portions, some facingto one side andothers to the other side to form retaining eyes, -a longitudinalretaining member capable of being passed through said eyeslongitudinally to close the open ends of the space .between the 'teeth,said retaining member being of a diameter to be pinched by the resilientteeth to hold it frictionally against longitudinal slipping,substantially as described.

.4. A spacing clamp embracingin its construction a comb-1ike memberhaving teeth formed to interlockingly embrace a retaining rod, and aretaining rod insertible endwise through the teeth and positively heldthereby against outward displacement; substantially as described. p

5. The combination of a comb having spring teeth, corresponding portionsof the difl erent teeth being oil-set in opposite directions, aretaining rod formed to be inserted between said off-set portions, saidretaining rod having one end tapered, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a flexible comb having a series of flexiblespacing teeth, and a flexible retaining member adapted to form adetachable engagement with said teeth to hold the interposed threads inposition, the comb and the'retaining member when assembled for use beingsufficiently flexible to be wrapped diagonally around the warp spool,substantially as described.

7. A spacing clamp for warpthreads or the like, embracing in itsconstruction a combdike structure having a flexible back or base, and aseries of laterally projecting parallel teeth spaced apart to receivewarp threads between them, said teeth being formed tointerlockinglyengage a longitudinal Warp-retaining member, intermediateof their ends, and a flexible warp-retaining member adapted to beremovably held. in warp-retaining engagement with said teethintermediate of their ends, where by the entire clamp may be readilybent around the warp spool in a helical or spiral direction,substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification. v cCHARLES LEA.

